Computer Performance, Windows 2003, Logon Scripts

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Windows Server 2003  Mixed v Native Mode

Mixed mode means that Windows Server 2003 domain controllers are running in the same domain with at least one NT 4.0.  Even though Native Mode is the ultimate goal, there are numerous benefits of deploying  Windows Server 2003 in Mixed Mode.

5 Features Available in Windows Server 2003 Mixed Mode

  1. Select multiple user objects.  Modify attributes of lots of user all in one go.  This feature actually works like NT 4.0's User Manger.  For a variety of reasons, multiple selection was not availably in W2K which made it tedious to change several users home directory in one operation.
  2. Drag-and-drop ability.  One irritation of W2K is that you cannot drag and drop users and computers between OUs.  This has been corrected in the latest Active Directory.
  3. Save your queries.   Tip save search queries that you use often in Active Directory Users and Computers, it saves time when you have to repeat the query later.
  4. Application directory partitions. Useful for controlling the replication scope for DNS (Domain Name System) data stored in Active Directory so that only specific domain controllers in the forest replicate DNS zone information.
  5. Universal group membership cached.  Avoid the need to locate a global catalog across a WAN link during logons by storing user universal group memberships on an authenticating domain controller.

6 Features Available in Native Mode

Native mode means all domain controllers are running Windows Server 2003 (No NT 4.0 BDCs or W2K DCs).  When Window Server 2003 is first installed, it will be in mixed mode so you will have to make the switch by right clicking the Domain object in Active Directory Users and Computers.

  1. Domain rename. Rename any domain in the Windows Server 2003  forest. Now you can change the DNS name or NetBIOS name of any child domain or even the forest root domain.
  2. Domain controller rename tool. Rename domain controllers without having to run DCPROMO and demote them.
  3. Forest trusts. Create a two way transitive trust to join two forests.  Very useful for amalgamating companies.
  4. Replication enhancements. Unnecessary traffic was created in W2K when you added one member to a group; it resulted in the whole group membership being replicated.  Linked value replication allows individual users to be replicated instead of replicating the entire group membership.
  5. Global catalog replication.  Similar to the above, less traffic is replicated when changes are made to the Global catalog
  6. Defunct schema objects. Deactivate classes or attributes from the schema which you know you will never use.

See Also